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Ordering curry/chips/chickenballs at the Chinese: missing the point?

245

Comments

  • #32
    Wertz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,909 ✭✭✭✭Wertz


    Lord Trollington wrote: »

    The thing with Chinese restaurants is that they lace the food with MSG.

    I have nothing against some MSG...some food needs falvour enhancement. But yeah it's not so good for you...

    One my mother told me years ago (she was a restauranteur) was the Chinese places (and probably loads of others) use a product called TVP
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textured_vegetable_protein
    as a meat substitute/extender...it's cheap and is often indistinguisable from chicken/pork/beef in a sauce dish
    Lots of people otut there thinking they're having a nice chicken chow mein and they're eating thermoplastic soya foam.


  • #33
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    smash wrote: »
    I've never made chicken balls at home...

    But I understand where you're coming from because people that go to an Italian and order a pasta dish might as well just throw their money away. What a waste!

    Well not make from scratch, but you could buy frozen crispy chicken fillets and they'd taste pretty much the same as any chickenballs I've had.

    Anyway, I wouldn't equate getting curry and chips at the Chinese all the time with getting pasta in an Italian restaurant. Not in a good Italian restaurant anyway.

    However, I would equate it with going to an Italian restaurant and always getting the spaghetti bolognese and lasagne and never trying anything else.


  • #34
    Oranage2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,129 ✭✭✭✭Oranage2


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    Well not make from scratch, but you could buy frozen crispy chicken fillets and they'd taste pretty much the same as any chickenballs I've had.

    Anyway, I wouldn't equate getting curry and chips at the Chinese all the time with getting pasta in an Italian restaurant. Not in a good Italian restaurant anyway.

    However, I would equate it with going to an Italian restaurant and always getting the spaghetti bolognese and lasagne and never trying anything else.

    LOL

    spaghetti bolognese is as tradionally Italian as Dominoes pizza!


  • #35
    phasers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,159 ✭✭✭✭phasers


    All I ever order is chips, rice, chicken balls and sesame prawn toast. (The frozen chicken fillets don't taste anything like chicken balls, pfft.)


    When I'm getting it to take away it doesn't bother me because I just want something quick and tasty, but I feel like a knob if I order it in a restaurant for some reason.


  • #36
    old hippy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    There's a lovely Chinese restaurant on George's St - I've had frogs legs there and shark lips. Mmmm.


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  • #37
    zie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14 ✭zie


    I wonder if there's countries in the world that serve irish food but get it completely wrong, and still ends up being insanely popular.


  • #38
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    zie wrote: »
    I wonder if there's countries in the world that serve irish food but get it completely wrong, and still ends up being insanely popular.

    A lot of Irish Americans (that I've met) seem to be convinced that we all eat corned beef and cabbage, as Irish immigrants apparently had to use corned beef instead of bacon because it's cheaper, and it's considered a traditional Irish dish in America.


  • #39
    Oranage2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,129 ✭✭✭✭Oranage2


    zie wrote: »
    I wonder if there's countries in the world that serve irish food but get it completely wrong, and still ends up being insanely popular.

    Emm isn't that place called Dublin?


  • #40
    stevenmu
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,688 Mod ✭✭✭✭stevenmu


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    Out of curiosity, what exactly is a 3 in 1?

    My usual Chinese doesn't list it, but I hear people talk about it a lot.

    2 in 1 = Chips and curry sauce in a tray.
    3 in 1 = Chips and rice and curry sauce.
    4 in 1 = Chips and rice and chicken balls in curry sauce.

    Bascially they're what used to be called a short/long tray in the pre-celtic tiger days.


  • #41
    stephen_k
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 449 ✭✭stephen_k


    Wertz wrote: »
    thermoplastic soya foam.


    Mmmmmmmmm thermopastic soya foam



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  • #42
    zie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14 ✭zie


    If the corned beef dish is what came about because it's what immigrants used to eat then that's understandable. but what reason do we have for having chinese dishes so wrong?


  • #43
    Ash.J.Williams
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,254 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    if i wanted to "Not" miss the point and have an authentic chinese dinner i probably wouldn't go to a "chinese".


  • #44
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,808 ✭✭✭✭smash


    Alternative 4 in 1 = Chips and rice and prawn balls in curry sauce.


  • #45
    Funglegunk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,566 ✭✭✭Funglegunk


    Wolflikeme wrote: »
    Chinese food is fcukin' rank (here and China!)

    Indian ftw!

    Pfft. Chinese food in China is the best food I have ever tasted.

    Put that in your pipe and smoke it.


  • #46
    WindSock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    This reminds me of a delightful episode of Eastendies I watched last night when Shirley Carter said to Heather Trott and the gay Mitchell (upon her return from Benidorm, I know this as she had an I <3 Benidorm printed tee on) anyways, she says 'I miss English food....lets get Chinese!'

    Heather Trott then squeeled with delight and informed all how much she would quite enjoy some Pork Balls. One would guess these are the British equivalent to Chicken Balls.


  • #47
    Wertz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,909 ✭✭✭✭Wertz


    stephen_k wrote: »
    Mmmmmmmmm thermopastic soya foam


    lol
    Don't worry vegetarians have been eating it for years.
    Great for soaking up the beer too.


  • #48
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    zie wrote: »
    If the corned beef dish is what came about because it's what immigrants used to eat then that's understandable. but what reason do we have for having chinese dishes so wrong?

    That's a good question.

    It might be due to people not be willing to try something very different from they were used to, or a Chinese dish with all the correct, fresh ingredients wouldn't hit the spot in terms of fast food.

    I know if it's Saturday night takeaway food I'm after, I want my MSG-laden satay from the takeaway, though I do like going to "proper" Chinese restaurants as well.


  • #49
    zie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14 ✭zie


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    That's a good question.

    It might be due to people not be willing to try something very different from they were used to, or a Chinese dish with all the correct, fresh ingredients wouldn't hit the spot in terms of fast food.

    I know if it's Saturday night takeaway food I'm after, I want my MSG-laden satay from the takeaway, though I do like going to "proper" Chinese restaurants as well.

    What's a 'proper' chinese restaurant then?


  • #50
    The King of Moo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭The King of Moo


    zie wrote: »
    What's a 'proper' chinese restaurant then?

    One where you sit at a nice table in a nicely-decorated place, and the food's more expensive but there's a better selection, and it's more likely to be higher quality food cooked with more care.

    As opposed to a counter with an occasional tiny glimpse of the cooks slaving away in horrible conditions when they pass out food through the little window :D.


  • #51
    WindSock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    'Proper' Chinese restaurants usually have Chinese people dining in them. The likes of the ones around Parnell St and whatnot.


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  • #52
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    One where you sit at a nice table in a nicely-decorated place, and the food's more expensive but there's a better selection, and it's more likely to be higher quality food cooked with more care.

    As opposed to a counter with an occasional tiny glimpse of the cooks slaving away in horrible conditions when they pass out food through the little window :D.

    Also the center of the table spins around. Thats the best bit.


  • #53
    stephen_k
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 449 ✭✭stephen_k


    zie wrote: »
    What's a 'proper' chinese restaurant then?


    http://www.china-sichuan.ie/home.html

    Great restaurant...


  • #54
    UnknownSpecies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭UnknownSpecies


    The majority of Chinese restaurants have Chinese cooks and Chinese owners, so I doubt it's a case of them not knowing what real Chinese food is :rolleyes:

    So I'd imagine the fact the Chinese meals aren't traditionally accurate is because the majority of Irish people have no interest in trying something more interesting! They are trying to run a business so if they only have all exotic and traditional Chinese food they aren't going to make as much money as they would by throwing out the usual boring but safe meals like 3-in-1's or chicken balls!


  • #55
    Wetai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 773 ✭✭✭Wetai


    Chinese takeaways are more like chippers that sell Chinese food.


  • #56
    Melina Refined Pension
    Posts: 81,310 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Melina Refined Pension


    MagicSean wrote: »
    I have a mate who used to order a dry breast of chicken and chips. Then he would smother it in ketchup. Not very oriental.

    But if you want to talk about missing the point. I used to work in a Wimpy Burger. The amount of people that would order massive meals and then look for a diet coke was mental. Like the diet drink would somehow make it a healthy meal.

    some of us prefer the taste of diet to normal coke


  • #57
    Joey the lips
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,262 ✭✭✭✭Joey the lips


    Most chinese is open after the pub. What ever change i have they get. It usually only amounts to a 3 in 1 if i have enough its noodles.


  • #58
    UnknownSpecies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,180 ✭✭✭UnknownSpecies


    bluewolf wrote: »
    some of us prefer the taste of diet to normal coke

    Yeah, while I don't prefer the taste of diet coke over normal coke, I do prefer Pepsi Max over anything!


  • #59
    stupidusername
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,762 ✭✭✭✭stupidusername


    I love chicken balls... nom nom nom batter...! Could eat it forever


  • #60
    mikemac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,968 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    jimthemental wrote: »
    Used to serve this weirdo in the local who didn't drink (not the reason I consider him weird by the way!). About 17 stone weight and he got two bags of tayto and a can of diet coke, then a snack bar for the road. No point to it unless it tastes nicer. Which it doesn't.
    MagicSean wrote: »

    But if you want to talk about missing the point. I used to work in a Wimpy Burger. The amount of people that would order massive meals and then look for a diet coke was mental. Like the diet drink would somehow make it a healthy meal.


    I've seen this on boards before

    People who order a takeaway and a diet coke are noted as if it's strange

    Not at all, Diet Coke is nicer in my opinion and many agree

    Even if the calories were the same, I'd still order Diet Coke over Coke


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  • #61
    Lady Chuckles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,279 ✭✭✭Lady Chuckles


    The King of Moo wrote: »
    What do you think?

    Does it say something about our reluctance to experiment with food, or can you convince me that Chinese curry, chickenballs and chips is the food of the gods?

    In Ikea in Dublin you can get Swedish meatballs with chips!! It's the strangest thing I've seen... That sauce you get with it isn't meant for chips, it's strange :P

    ... But then again, I suppose Thai people wouldn't be too thrilled to see me have mashed potatoes with a spicy chicken "Thai stew", but it's marvellous :pac:

    So to sum this up: we're all weird people, I guess :)


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